The NHL has handed down at least their initial word about how they’re going to handle things with Vancouver forward Rick Rypien and his grabby hands towards a Minnesota fan. The league has suspended Rypien indefinitely pending a hearing. Given what happened last night in St. Paul and the fact the Canucks play again tonight against Chicago, the league had to do something right away.

What this does mean is that Rypien will meet with the NHL face-to-face soon, The Sporting News’ Craig Custance tweets that the NHL has requested a Friday morning meeting with Rypien to talk things over. What meeting face-to-face with the NHL generally tends to mean is a suspension of more than five games. It doesn’t mean it will happen, just that going to New York City to face the music gives the possibility of it happening. The Collective Bargaining Agreement has rules regarding these sorts of things and, yes, they are a bit funny that way.